Now that spring is in full swing and one of my favourite ways to enjoy all the spring produce is in fresh salads. This is a very simple yet delicious vegan springtime salad with tender lollo bionda, chickpeas, white asparagus tips, pine nuts and fresh berries tossed in a flaxseed oil dressing.

Salad

Flaxseed Oil Dressing

1/2 head Lollo bionda / leaf lettuce, chopped

150 g Chickpeas, cooked and drained

10 Strawberries, trimmed and halved

50 g Blueberries

50 g Raspberries

12 White asparagus tips

A handful pine nuts, dry toasted

Basil

60 ml Flaxseed oil

Freshly pressed juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp Maple syrup

1 clove Garlic, minced

1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

Tri-colour peppercorns, freshly milled

Sea salt

Place all the ingredients for the dressing in a glass jar, close the lid and shake vigorously to mix well. Either use immediately or store it in the fridge until ready to use. Keeps for up to 1 week. Shake well before using.

Place chopped lollo bionda leaves in two serving bowls. Add in cooked chickpeas and berries. Arrange the white asparagus tips on top and sprinkle the toasted pine nuts over. Garnish with basil leaves.

Drizzle enough of the dressing over and gently toss to combine. Serve!

I used to buy flaxseed oil all the time, but I haven't for ages, thanks for the reminder! I had to look up lollo bionda. The white asparagus tips look amazing. I am off using pine nuts because they have become so ridiculously expensive and the more affordable ones are imported from China and many people have had adverse reactions to eating them, changing the taste of food for months afterward.

Hi Angie, oh do I ever love your salads, always so fresh. I love leaf lettuce and enjoy it quite often for lunch. Chick peas, berries and asparagus sounds like a match made in heaven, love the dressing too.

Spring is a fabulous time of the year for salads! We try to have one every night so finding creative jewels like this is exciting! Have never used flaxseed for a salad dressing. Sounds very interesting and what a lovely salad!

I remember when my mom and I used to subsist on flaxseed oil dressings. She would make GALLONS worth (without maple syrup) and dress her HUGE SALADS every night with it. It was delicious. I have to say, I do miss them!

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